Shimano Calcutta 700 Fishing Reels - B, BSV, TE
When You Are Ready To Whip Some Big Fish A#$
You're Ready For A Calcutta 700
This ain't your momma's fishing reel here boys, the Calcutta 700 is primed, juiced and ready to flat out take it to some big fish. This is the ultimate whether you are live-baiting or jigging for something sweet offshore like a big fat tuna, snapper, king or ling, flailing around in the guts down the beach for a little redfish or shark action (smaller of course), or beating the ponds for some of those monster cats or sturgeons. This thing is simply a beast! One things for sure with this one, if it gets on, the only way it gets away is if you didn't set the hook, did something stupid, or your crew messed it up for you.
Shimano Calcutta 700 Review
Alright, here's my review on the Calcutta 700. This reel comes in three different flavors ("B", "BSV", "TE"). These reels are freaking sweet! Personally I love and fish my BSV every chance I get and especially when I'm down the beach. The TE is a little smoother with the additional bearings but it just wasn't in the cards for me. When I find one on sale though or can pick up a good used one, you can bet that I will. I don't like the "B" version so much as I've said above simply because it has a levelwind. If you don't mind that and don't really want to work the line back on the spool and instead have the reel do it for you, then that may just be the model for you. However, when I'm down the beach or out offshore and a nice kingfish picks it up and start smoking that line off the reel, it sure is a pretty site to see on the BSV. I've also used it at the rigs to catch some decent (20+ class red snappers) on. I have however been broken off by the same as I've hooked something that I simply couldn't stop from diving into the rig and cutting me off. But that's happened on other reels as well. If you didn't want that to happen then you should've fished something bigger but I'm just not one to go dropping a 9/0 reel down by the rigs. I like the fight I get out of the 700. It's my reel of choice for offshore. For the type of fishing I do both onshore and off, this reel gets two big thumbs up and 10 stars from this guy!!
Shimano Calcutta 700 Special Features
Everyone I know who's ever fished one has completely fallen in love with them. There's time when friends will go down the beach with us and I'll get them hooked up and all they can say is how much they liked that reel, the way it fought, the way the drag spun off giving the fish just enough line but still maintaining the pressure.
- 4.7:1 gear ratio
- 3 A-RB stainless steel ball bearings + 1 A-RB stainless steel roller bearing
- Super Stopper anti-reverse
- Shimano Variable Brake System (VBS)
- One piece aluminum body construction
- Precision aluminum spool
Calcutta 700 Reels - Specifications for B, BSV, TE
Here's a quick little specification sheet so you can see how the 700 series of Calcutta's spec out to one another:
| Calcutta B, BSV, GTB,TE, TE DC, Right Handed, Left Handed Specifications | ||||||||
| Model | Retrieve | Line Retrieve Per Crank (in.) | Mono Line Capacity | Max Drag (lbs.) | Ball Bearings | Roller Bearings | Gear Ratio | Weight (oz) |
| CT700B | Right | 28 | 20/310, 30/200 | 16.5 | 3 | 1 | 4.7:1 | 18.2 |
| CT700BSV | Right | 28 | 20/310, 30/200 | 16.5 | 3 | 1 | 4.7:1 | 19.2 |
| CTE700 | Right | 31 | 16/420, 20/300, 25/250 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 4.7:1 | 19 |
Shimano Calcutta 700 Schematic
Shimano Calcutta News
Calcutta 700B vs. Calcutta 700BSV
These reels are actually identical with the exception of two pieces. The 700B has a levelwind while the 700BSV does not. I actually prefer the one that doesn't, it's just a personal preference from years of fishing both onshore and offshore with much larger reels that didn't have levelwinds and have just gotten used to feeding the line back onto the spool while fighting the fish. The only other difference is that the 700B has a top crossbar (which kind of holds the levelwind into place, while the 700BSV does not, thus giving the appearance of a more open spool. Some have said that it helps with their casting abilities of the two reels but I haven't noticed any difference. If you look at the picture in the schematic up above you'll see what I'm talking about.
Calcutta 700B For Sale - Get Them Below Price
You might even score a BSV or TE at a discounted price
Well, here comes the problem. Typically with a great reel you have to pay a pretty penny to get one. Good news for you is that you can still find these Calcutta 700's around in very good working condition with only a few cosmetic dings here and there for a great price. It just takes some patience and willingness to wait till you can find it. You can search out the typical places like eBay and Craigslist and whatever other kind of site you can think of, or you can stick around here and look below and just check back every once in a while to see what the latest deals and discounts you can find. We've got something setup that will go out and find those for you so you don't have to, just come back and look again. If you see one that you like at a price you are willing to pay, jump on it. But be quick because I'm always looking to find another for my collection.
Back to TopShimano Calcutta 700 Handle - Replacement
Whether your's broke or for some unknown reason you just want to replace the excellent handle that is already on these reels, check out the prices on the selection and choices you have below
Back to TopShimano Calcutta 700BSV - BlackTip Shark
What? You don't think that a Calcutta 700BSV can handle a shark? Well it can! Here's some video proof of just that. Here's a little beach action of nice blacktip shark being caught from the mouth of the Brazos River all using a Calcutta 700BSV. Let me tell ya, if you've never caught a shark before, it's like holding on to a full-size Chevy Silverado and trying to direct it in the mud as to where to go, sometimes for hours. Total fun!
Back to TopShimano Calcutta 700TE Tearing A Tuna Up!
Here you go, this should answer any questions you may have if this reel can handle a F-I-S-H (that's a big fish for all you suckers out there). Although not a giant 800 pound BFT from offshore, this is still a very nice class 30# blue fin tuna that I'm sure tasted just devine. Dude was even a champ and took it like a man, catching his first blue fin tuna and commemorated it as all true fisherman do with their first BFT by eating the heart fresh. If you are a little squeamish, don't watch the end when he pops it in.
Back to TopShimano Calcutta 700: Video Catching Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Here's some more beach action for you. Well, the fish isn't exactly that impressive because it's a bit small for a shark, still, this 700 reel whipped it in to the shore in no time.
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